SALUTATORY SPEECH

On behalf of the Organizing Committee I am very glad to open this International Conference on Protected Growing of Vegetables in Plovdiv.

We note with satisfaction that the invitation for participation at this Conference was accepted by many eminent scientists of the socialist and other countries and we are happy to mark the attendance of such prominent representatives of the horticultural science as Prof. Brisgalov, Prof. Tarakanov, Prof. Nerpin, of the USSR; Academician Shomosh of Hungary; Prof. Chrobocek of Poland; Prof. Meier of Rumania; Prof. Dobrenov of Yugoslavia; Prof. Seidel and Prof. Geisler of the GDR; Dr. de Bakker, Secretary General of the International Society for Horticultural Science; Prof. Fritz, Chairman of the International Society for Horticultural Science's Section of Vegetables; Prof. Sugiyama of Japan; Dr. Daunicht of the Federal Republic of Germany and many other prominent scientists, working in the field of horticulture.

On your and on my behalf I welcome you heartily in Bulgaria and would like to wish you a most agreeable and useful sojourn in our country.

Their participation and that of all prominent operators in the field of protected growing of vegetables will contribute to the success of this Symposium.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear comrades,

It is not by mere chance that the ancient and beautiful Plovdiv was chosen as the site of our Conference on Vegetable growing under glass. Plovdiv is the town where this growing practice first came into being in Bulgaria. The largest greenhouse blocks are located here and you will be given the opportunity of seeing them.

Here are the "Maritsa" Vegetable Growing Institute and the Vine-growing and Horticultural Faculty of the "V. Kolarov" Higher Agricultural Institute where the problems of protected growing of vegetables in Bulgaria are handled.

We are particularly glad that the most important problems of vegetable growing under glass will be reported and discussed just in Plovdiv and this will doubtlessly contribute to the further development of this important agricultural branch in our country.

Overmore this Conference is an expression of useful international scientific cooperation.

We can look forward to great successes only on the basis of such an international cooperation where achievements of experiments and advances of science are exchanged between scientists of all countries on a large scale.

Our sunny Plovdiv, the fine weather of May symbolize our joyful feelings and the prompt readiness with which all of us are meeting you. We are glad to offer you the opportunity to see and get acquainted with what we can show you.

I wish you an agreeable and succesful sojourn in our country.

I open the Conference and call upon Mr. Prof. Braynov, Deputy Minister of Culture, to present his allocution.


SALUTATORY SPEECH OF PROF. BRAYNOV, DEPUTY MINISTER OF THE CULTURE

Dear Comrades,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Guests and participants of the International Conference on the Problems
of Protected Growing of Vegetables,

The topics of this Conference - yields, quality, efficiency etc. of products, obtained from plant growing structures - are of ever increasing importance for many developed countries. They are also of great interest for our economy and science and the Government of our People's Republic take good care for their development. The size of these structures was greatly expanded during the last years; many scientific creative forces were and are being put into actions for this purpose. Specific scientific problems are closely related to them calling for the necessity of finding adequate devices for the furthering of the scientific and technical progress in this particular field. As this is a modern branch the relevant research and science are developed under the conditions of our socialist country on the Institutes of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, on the different chairs of the Higher Agricultural Institutes in Plovdiv and Sofia, where their role is ever increasing. In this connection I would like to note particularly the role and responsibilities of the host of this Conference, the Vassil Kolarov Higher Agricultural Institute in Plovdiv, especially of its Wine-growing and Horticultural Faculty. Specialists of university education, trained in this Institute and research, conducted there, contribute greatly to the further development of protected growing of vegetables in the People's Republic of Bulgaria.

According to the programme of this Conference there will be read a number of important papers on plant growing structures, schemes thereof, on methods of maintaining a microclimate in them as well as on mechanization, organization, economics, etc.

Many new issues and important problems are expected to be elucidated by these papers, the relevant discussions and by the personal contacts and talks among the participants, as well as useful information on recent achievements in the individual countries to be exchanged by which the basic targets of the Conference will be certainly achieved.

Owing to the problems and issues to be treated at this Conference and its adequate organization it is an instrument of useful international scientific collaboration, which must be maintained and further developed.

Participants of the Conference are scientists and specialists of different countries, expressingly by their attendance both the desire and readiness for international collaboration in this specific field of science as well as the endeavour and readiness for a peaceful creative collaboration between peoples of all countries.

Greeting this International Conference on behalf of the Executive Council of the Ministry of Culture and on behalf of his Excellency the Minister, I wish all participants success in their work and all foreign guests an agreeable sojourn in our country.

Thank you for your attention!


SALUTATORY SPEECH OF ENG. KUMANOV, PRESIDENT OF THE CITY MUNICIPAL
COUNCIL, PLOVDIV

Ladies and Gentlement,
Comrades,

The ancient town Plovdiv opens its doors today to meet you, the representatives of science, at this Conference on the Problems of Protected Vegetable Growing. The town of Plovdiv was not chosen as a forum of prominent scientists and workers in the field of agriculture by mere chance. In the area of Plovdiv there are about 250 hectares covered with greenhouses i.e. 50 per cent of the greenhouses in our country. Several thousands tons of high quality vegetables are produced there, which are readily marketed all over the world. In our town there is furthermore the Wine-growing and Horticultural Faculty, the unique training centre in Bulgaria for greenhouse production personnel. Research into vegetable production is conducted intensively on the "Maritsa" Vegetable Crop Growing Institute.

We trust your Conference will proceed both in a business-like manner and with a constructive approach and will greatly contribute to the further development of greenhouse production. The achievement of this goal is warranted by the participation at this Conference of many renowned scientists working in this particular field.

The City Municipal Council will do its best to assist the Conference in achieving its targets as far as possible and to allow its participants to establish close friendly relations. During the days of your sojourn in Plovdiv you will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the successes Bulgaria achieved for the 25 years of its existence as a socialist country, with the renovation of the Bulgarian village, with the enormous progress our people noted in all branches of life. At the same time you will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the cultural monuments the ancient quarter of Plovdiv is so abundantly provided with, giving the town a unique aspect and colour.

The citizens of Plovdiv will meet you, we are sure, heartily and readily as dear guests. We trust we will gain in your person new sincere adherents of the cause of establishing closer relations not only among the scientific workers of our countries, but among their peoples as well.

I take the liberty with this introduction to welcome you in our country on behalf of the Executive Committee of the City People's Council and to wish you successful work and an agreeable time.

Let the scientific collaboration between our countries grow stronger and develop and serve the noble strivings for increasing the prosperity of the people all over the world and for strengthening peace amoung people.

Thank you for your attention!